Center for Direct Catalytic Conversion of Biomass to Biofuels
C3Bio is a U.S. DOE Energy Frontier Research Center
In 2009, the Department of Energy established pioneering Energy Frontier
Research Centers to address grand challenges in basic energy sciences.
C3Bio develops transformational knowledge and technologies to optimize
the energy and carbon efficiencies of conversion of biomass to advanced
biofuels, conducting fundamental research for the foundation of a
renewable hydrocarbon industry. Our enterprise is integrated among five
partner institutions: Purdue University, Argonne National Laboratory, the
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Northeastern University, and the
University of Tennessee.
Petroleum Dependence Undermines Economic, Environmental and National Security
Biofuels and bio-products are part of the diverse energy
portfolio required to displace current U.S. dependence on
foreign and finite sources of oil. Biomass is an annually
renewable source of home-grown energy available from U.S.
agriculture and forestry. The long-term impact of C3Bio is to
enable the replacement of petrochemical refineries with nextgeneration hydrocarbon biorefineries that:



utilize any type of plant biomass
minimize the land area required to grow biomass crops
make high-value bioproducts and fuels compatible with existing transportation infrastructure
New Science at the Intersection of Disciplines
C3Bio researchers integrate plant genetics and molecular biology, cutting-edge catalytic and analytical
chemistry, engineering and nanotechnology to directly convert non-food plant biomass to
transportation fuels and other value-added products. Our undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and technicians are cross-trained in a highly interdisciplinary research environment.
At this interface, science is transformational.
Maureen McCann, Director, mmccann@purdue.edu
Mahdi Abu-Omar, Assoc Dir, mabuomar@purdue.edu
Carl Huetteman, Project Manager, chuettem@purdue.edu
C3Bio.org
C3Bio is funded by the U.S. Department of
Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy
Sciences, Award Number DE-SC0000997
Center for Direct Catalytic Conversion of Biomass to Biofuels
Technical Research Areas
Thrust 1. Apply new catalytic transformations to biomass and identify highly efficient process pathways.
Rational cell wall deconstruction requires the development of catalytic chemistry with
targeted bond-breaking to enable efficient transformations of lignin and polysaccharides
into defined high-value products. We are developing catalysts for controlled
deconstruction of lignin and polyalcohols derived from cellulose and xylan in intact
biomass. We are studying catalytic thermal processes to develop a detailed understanding
to increase liquid fuel yields with appropriate catalysts. Development of advanced mass spectrometric tools is
enabling rapid molecular-level characterization of complex mixtures of reaction products.
Thrust 2. Achieve an atomic-to-macromolecular scale understanding of the catalysts:biomass interaction.
We are developing structural biosensors, sophisticated imaging technologies and
advanced bioanalytical tools to define the chemical structure and physical properties of
biomass, its components and genetic variants to provide critical knowledge of how
biomass interacts with catalysts. We are developing models for integrated data
visualization from Ångström to micron scales, including computational models of cell
wall assemblies in various interactions with metallo- and other chemical catalysts.
Thrust 3. Tailor biomass for highly efficient, direct catalytic conversion to high-value fuels and products.
A key to catalyst-substrate interactions is the accessibility of catalysts to the appropriate
chemical bonds. The tools of plant genetics and molecular biology enabled a revolution
in the ability to produce plants with modified characteristics. We are investigating
delivery of metal catalysts throughout the cell wall structure and creation of
functionalized sites primed for catalytic transformations. We will design biomass variants
to incorporate catalysts, co-catalysts into cell walls as the plant grows, simplifying
deconstruction following biomass harvest. Our ability to incorporate plant-generated
Trojan horse catalysts depends upon a deep understanding of cell wall assembly and the
chemical structure and physical properties of the biomass.
C3Bio Investigators
Purdue University: M. McCann (Director), M. Abu-Omar (Associate Director), R. Agrawal, N.
Carpita, C. Chapple, K. Clase, N. Delgass, H. Kenttämaa, N. Mosier, F. Ribeiro, G. Simpson, C.
Staiger, D. Szymanski, K. Thomson
National Renewable Energy Laboratory: M. Himmel, S-Y. Ding, M. Tucker, M. Crowley, B.
Donohoe
Argonne National Laboratory: I. McNulty
Northeastern University: L. Makowski
University of Tennessee: J. Bozell, C. Barnes, A. Buchan
Maureen McCann, Director, mmccann@purdue.edu
Mahdi Abu-Omar, Assoc Dir, mabuomar@purdue.edu
Carl Huetteman, Project Manager, chuettem@purdue.edu
C3Bio.org
C3Bio is funded by the U.S. Department of
Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy
Sciences, Award Number DE-SC0000997